Mail in rebate rant
 

We bought a Kitchenaid food processor in the Black Friday sales.... a good price made "irresistible" with another $75 "mail in rebate". The salesman told me it could all be done online in minutes.

Sure enough, went to the website, filled in all the personal details, scanned the receipt ready for "uploading" and took a photo of the UPC code (took a little research to find out that's the new name for barcode!).

I was prompted to upload the scan of the receipt, but when it came to the UPC code, the numbers auto filled in on the page!

OK, no hassle, until today, nearly 2 months later, when we get a letter.... our claim has been denied! Why? Because I didn't provide a photocopy of the UPC code, or the original cut out of the box....:huh:

So I called the number, eventually got through to someone and explained I wasn't asked to upload the UPC code. I was accused of not following the website instructions properly.... I was then told to cut it from the box and mail it, or cut it out, photocopy it and then fax it. With a covering letter. I told her the year was 2012, and asked if I could simply scan it and email it.... no, Kitchenaid Canada don't do email.:lol:

It seems to me the whole "mail in rebate" thing is a con, designed to whittle the number of "claimants" down with attrition.

What's worse is I bought another matching Kitchenaid mixer recently, with a "mail in rebate" and the poxy website won't even let me upload the receipt, saying I have a problem with my browser!! Grrr.

Has anyone else had trouble with this sort of promotion, or have I just dropped on unlucky??

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

Mail-in rebates are notoriously difficult to actually get. I can never be bothered! :D

And whilst being of absolutely no help whatsoever, I'd just like to wish you good luck.

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

Thanks :)

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

ive just got one for new tires
Here is hoping that i get the money back, i have never had to do these before

Brenda

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

Let us know how you get on.... good luck.

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

Mr Cookie bought me a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer for my Christmas and I did not know about the mail in rebate, but I do now. So I will send mine off. :)

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

Michelin had a $75 rebate for winter tyres recently...I got mine at Costco and they applied the $75 rebate to the price...no need to go through the mail in process...believe me with those you have to do it exactly as per the instructions or you will be rejected.

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

Mail in Rebates are just a come on, you shouldn't expect to be able to claim them.

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

Ive always eventually got any rebate I have mailed off for, but the basic premise of them is that people forget or screw up, so they get the sale and dont have to give the discount to everyone, one way or the other.

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

We have been successful on one mail in rebate for less than $50, the other one we did at the same time for the laptop, was for a much larger dollar amount, I seem to remember over $100 - pah nothing. We take no notice of them now and tend to buy something similar or wait until it's on a proper sale.

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

Had exactly the same issue with Dailies contact lenses, submitted the correct info and scans in the correct formats as requested, not the usual type of scans but luckily my better half is a graphic designer and has the correct software to scan in the format they require (not available to most), told by the company 4 times that they did not have them, despite getting confirmation receipts, each and every time. Eventually my submission was denied as I "waited too long".

Complained to the store selling the items, they basically told be to go away as its not their issue.

Whole thing is a scam.

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

Don't buy anything on the strength of a mail in rebate. Assume you won't get it. Sometimes you are lucky.

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

They expect a mail in rebate action rate of 3% or less
and the help desks aren't encouraged to be helpful...

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

Thanks all for the replies... general consensus seems to be it's all a rip-off. Is there any TV show similar to Watchdog over here???

I am going to persevere, out of sheer bloody mindedness, and claim my total of $125!! It will probably cost more in lost time and aggravation to do so, but there's a principal at stake!!

Re: Mail in rebate rant
 

CBC have a show called Marketplace o their national network. CBC BC also have a program called Go Public. Radio Canada might have something similar.